The Department of Animal Science competitive teams have continued having a successful semester. Results below include contests at San Antonio, South Plains, Houston, and more!

Learn more about the department's 10 competitive teams here.

Dairy Challenge Team

The Texas A&M Dairy Challenge Team recently competed at the Western Regional Dairy Challenge Contest in Richfield, Utah. The Dairy Challenge contest consists of teams of 4 evaluating a dairy within their fields of reproduction, nutrition, general health, milk quality and management. The team serves as on-farm consultants and find opportunities for the producer and dairy to be more profitable. The team then creates a presentation and presents their findings to a panel of judges, industry professionals and producers. Congratulations to these students!

  • Alana Lee, 1st in her room
  • Mia Coker, 2nd in her room
  • Griffin Matthys, 3rd in his room
  • McKenzie McGinniss, 3rd in her room
  • Greyson Evans, 4th in his room
  • Carrigan Fritz, 5th in her room
  • Coach: Haley Williams
  • Coordinator: Sushil Paudyal

The team will compete next at the Intercollegiate National Dairy Challenge Contest in Visalia, California in April.

Horse Judging Team

The Texas A&M Horse Judging program recently competed at the National Reined Cow Horse Association Championship Judging Contest and captured both champion team and 3rd high team (tied for reserve champion team).

We had four team members make the top 10 overall.

  • Brianna Bongard, Maryland: champion individual
  • Evyn Barnes, Texas: 7th high individual
  • Elena Betteridge, Texas: 9th high individual
  • Anelise Wilson, Texas: 10th high individual

We are very excited for the upcoming year and these results are a great testament to the work ethic we have seen since the start of this school year! Team members representing us at this contest included Evyn Barnes, Texas; Brianna Bongard, Maryland; Elena Betteridge, Texas; Emma Brunson, Texas; Ella Fowler, Texas; Cassie Hiles, Texas; AJ Kendrick, Texas; Dalton Regehr, Kansas; Gabby Schultz, Texas; Hannah Vierling, Texas; and Anelise Wilson, Texas. The team was coached by Coach Sarah Schobert , Assistant Coach Megan Miller, and past 2023 Cow Horse High Individual and Assistant Coach Greyson Philippovic.

Mark your calendars to join the horse judging team on March 23 for a half-day clinic for 4-H and FFA students and coaches. Register on judgingcard.com.

Livestock Judging Team

The Texas A&M Livestock Judging Team recently competed at the Dixie National Contest and the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo contest.

Dixie National

Team:

  • 2nd Overall
  • 2nd Reasons
  • 2nd Brahman
  • 2nd British
  • 2nd Continental
  • 3rd Market

Individual:

  • Kash Butler: 4th Overall, 7th Continental, 7th Market, 10th British, 10th reasons
  • Weston McElroy: 6th Overall, 3rd Continental
  • Brylee Williams: 10th Overall, 6th British
  • Taylor Turner: 1st Continental, 5th Reasons, 9th British
  • Gunner Coburn: 1st Brahman
  • Blake Peterson: 3rd British
  • Cooper Ford: 4th Market
  • Conner Knudson: 6th Reasons
  • Hannah McElrath: 6th Market
  • Hunter Knudson: 7th Brahman
  • Emmitt Meyring: 7th British
  • Cooper Thompson: 8th Brahman
  • Kyle Real: 9th Continental, 10th Brahman

Other team members include Kord Butler, Keilee Day, Caitlyn Hobbs, Tate Hogan, Sara Jennings, Kendahl Nix, Karson Patton, Kaley Pieper, and Ethan Sanchez.

San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo

The Aggies had a great day at San Antonio with a team win and eight out of the top 15 individuals overall!

Team:

  • 1st Overall
  • 1st Reasons
  • 1st Cattle
  • 1st Sheep
  • 2nd Goats
  • 2nd Hogs

Individual:

  • Cooper Thompson: high Individual overall, 1st reasons, 1st cattle, 10th hogs
  • Tate Hogan: 5th overall, 2nd cattle, 3rd hogs
  • Weston McElroy: 7th overall, 7th hogs
  • Taylor Turner: 10th overall, 4th cattle, 6th reasons
  • Gunner Coburn: 11th overall, 5th reasons, 6th hogs, 7th sheep
  • Conner Knudson: 12th overall, 4th reasons, 5th sheep
  • Blake Peterson: 14th overall, 3rd sheep, 9th goats
  • Cooper Ford: 15th overall, 10th goats

Other team members include Hannah McElrath, Hunter Knudson, Kash Butler, Caitlyn Hobbs, Ethan Sanchez, Kaley Pieper, Kyle Real, Kendahl Nix, Brylee Williams, Keilee Day, Sara Jennings, Kord Butler, Karson Patton and Emmitt Meyring.

Mark your calendars to join the livestock judging team on March 23 for a half-day clinic for 4-H and FFA students and coaches. Register on judgingcard.com.

Meat Judging Team

The Texas A&M Meat Judging Team was named champion team at the South Plains Meat Judging Contest in Hereford, Texas, at Caviness Beef Packers.

Team Results:

  • High team overall
  • 1st grading
  • 1st lamb
  • 2nd reasons
  • 2nd pork
  • 3rd specs

The team had three members place in the top 10 and seven in the top 10 alternates.

Team members:

  • Kyla Beck: 2nd high individual overall, 2nd grading, 1st beef, 1st placings, 5th lamb, 4th reasons, and 1st total beef.
  • Avery Flanagan: 7th high individual overall, 2nd specs, 4th grading
  • Nathan Kerth: 9th high individual overall, 5th placings
  • Dillon Prokop: 1st pork, 5th grading, 4th lamb, 3rd reasons

Alternate contest:

  • Shelby Pieniazek: 1st
  • Maddie Unruh: 2nd
  • Maggie DeLaCerda: 3rd
  • Gavin Kubala: 4th
  • Tanner Owen: 6th
  • Madeline Luedke: 8th
  • Connor Pence: 10th

Other team members include Landon Southern, Tate Lane, Karson Kurtz, Logann Weidenfeller, and Trey Hoffmann.

The team is coached by Lauren Lee, Jennifer Wyle, and Gage Walsh.

Houston

The team was named champion and reserve champion at the Houston Livestock Show Meat Judging Contest held at Martin Foods in Houston, Texas. Houston lets each school run two teams and recognizes all contestants as individuals in every category. The Aggies had a great day!

Reasons:

  • 1st & 3rd Teams
  • Nathan Kerth: 2nd
  • Connor Pence: 3rd
  • Shelby Pieniazek: 4th
  • Maddie Unruh: 8th
  • Dillon Prokop: 10th

Beef Judging:

  • 1st & 3rd Teams
  • Connor Pence: 1st
  • Nathan Kerth: 2nd
  • Shelby Pieniazek: 4th
  • Madeline Luedke: 9th

Lamb Judging:

  • 1st & 2nd Teams
  • Connor Pence: 2nd
  • Logan Weidenfeller: 3rd
  • Dillon Prokop: 5th
  • Kyla Beck: 6th
  • Nathan Kerth: 9th
  • Shelby Pieniazek: 10th

Total Beef:

  • 2nd & 4th Teams
  • Nathan Kerth: 1st
  • Connor Pence: 3rd
  • Landon Southern: 4th
  • Shelby Pieniazek: 8th
  • Karson Kurtz: 10th

Pork Judging:

  • 2nd & 3rd Teams
  • Maddie Unruh: 1st
  • Avery Flanagan: 3rd
  • Nathan Kerth: 8th
  • Dillon Prokop: 10th

Specs:

  • 2nd & 4th Teams (6 with a perfect 100)
  • Nathan Kerth: 1st
  • Landon Southern: 2n
  • Connor Pence: 4th
  • Dillon Prokop: 5th
  • Shelby Pieniazek: 9th
  • Kyla Beck: 12th

Placing:

  • 1st & 2nd Teams
  • Nathan Kerth: 1st
  • Karson Kurtz: 2nd
  • Shelby Pieniazek: 3rd
  • Maddie Unruh: 4th
  • Madeline Luedke: 7th
  • Trey Hoffmann tied for 10th

Grading:

  • 5th Team
  • Nathan Kerth: 2nd
  • Landon Southern: 4th
  • Connor Pence: 7th

We had 7 of the Top 10 Overall High Individuals!

  • 1st: Nathan Kerth 1094 (tied highest score ever)
  • 2nd: Connor Pence
  • 4th: Shelby Pienziak
  • 5th: Landon Southern
  • 6th: Maddie Unruh
  • 7th: Dillon Prokop
  • 10th: Karson Kurtz

Champion Team - Shelby Pieniazek, Maddie Unruh, Madeline Luedke, Tanner Owen
Reserve Champion Team - Nathan Kerth, Dillon Prokop, Kyla Beck, Avery Flanagan

Other team members include Landon Southern, Tate Lane, Karson Kurtz, Logann Weidenfeller, Connor Pence, Gavin Kubala, Maggie DelaCerda, & Trey Hoffmann.

The team is coached by Lauren Lee & Jennifer Wyle.

The FTAMJT '24 has had an amazing spring season, being named champion team at every contest. We are blessed with amazing, hard working students and we look forward to seeing what this group will do in the Fall. Gig 'em!

Mark your calendars to join the meat judging team on March 23 for a half-day clinic for 4-H and FFA students and coaches. Register at judgingcard.com.

Ranch Horse Team

The Texas A&M Ranch Horse Team competed at the National Reined Cow Horse competition in Fort Worth on February 23.

Results:

  • Overall: 5th place 
  • Tucker Gillespie: 4th place Non-Pro 
  • Grace Chambers: 3rd place Limited 
  • Leila Anderson: 6th place Novice

Bryan SHTX Kick Off Classic

The Ranch Horse Team had great individual successes at the Bryan SHTX Kick Off Classic! Team members showed and volunteered in both the regular and collegiate divisions. A special congratulations goes to Josh, Haley, and Charlee for a clean sweep of trail in all 3 divisions.

Top 10 results:

Collegiate Non Pro

  • Josh Nichols: 1st all-around
  • Emma Thrasher: 3rd all-around
  • Tucker Gillespie: 6th all-around

Non Pro

  • Tucker Gillespie: 1st all-around
  • Emma Thrasher: 2nd all-around

Collegiate Ltd.

  • Haley Winkler: 1st all-around
  • Grace Chambers: 5th all-around

Ltd.

  • Haley Winkler: 1st all-around

Collegiate Novice

  • Charles Proctor: 4th all-around
  • Leila Anderson: 10th all-around

2023 Awards Banquet

Ranch Horse Team members were also recognized for the 2023 season. Congratulations to all the team members on a great 2023 season.

Awards banquet for 2023

  • Haley Winkler: Josie-Coverdale Scholarship Recipient
  • Grace Chambers: 2023 Novice Year-End Champion
  • Emma Thrasher: 2023 Non-Pro Collegiate Year-End Champion
  • Tucker Gillespie: Third Place Non-Pro
  • Josh Nichols: Third Place Limited

Wool Judging Team

The Texas A&M Wool Judging Team competed at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo in February, bringing home first and second place.

Team results:

  • High team overall
  • 2nd high team overall
  • High team grading
  • High team placing
  • High team reasons

Overall Individual Results:

  • Davis Nix: 1st
  • Mia Moderski: 2nd
  • Braydenn Bennett: 3rd
  • Jamisen Capps: 4th
  • Samuel Seidenberger: 5th
  • Molly Friess: 6th
  • Savay Sexton: 7th
  • Koda Davis: 8th
  • Coy Jacobs: 10th

Grading Rail Results

  • Samuel Seidenberger: 1st
  • Mia Moderski: 2nd
  • Jamisen Capps: 10th

Placing Results

  • Davis Nix: 1st
  • Owen Sanders: 2nd
  • Jamisen Capps: 3rd
  • Braydenn Bennett: 4th
  • Coy Jacobs: 5th
  • Tres Spencer: 6th
  • Mia Moderski: 7th
  • Brant Werner: 8th
  • Jenna Dow: 9th
  • Molly Friess: 10th

Reasons Results

  • Lily Ford: 1st
  • Benjamin Flanagan: 2nd
  • Jenna Dow: 3rd
  • Mia Moderski: 4th
  • Braydenn Bennett: 5th
  • Davis Nix: 6th
  • Samuel Seidenberger: 7th
  • Grace Real: 9th

Coaches: Shane Flanagan, Jaxson Zimmerman, Carson Carter